Automobile signal device



A. BERGER.

AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAYI, 1922.

1 ,430, 352 Patented Sept. 26, 1922..

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AUTOMOBILE SIGNAL DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED MAY I. I922.

Patented Sept. 26, 1922..

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Application 'filed ltay 1, 1922. Serial No. 557,769.

To all whom it may concern A Be it known that I, ALEXANDER BERGER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bayside, New York, and whose post-office address is Bayside, New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Automobile Signal Devices, of which the' following is a specification.

,vices which may be inexpensively plate brackets without the necessity of any end light since vIl() Vand improved alteration thereof and which is also readily accessible for removal. and replacement of lamps. My improved rear signal device also enables me to dispense with the usual rear it serves bothv as a signal and license plate illuminating device and as a parking light. My improved front signal device also serves to illuminate the front license plate when signalling the direction of movement. 1 also combine with my improved system an automatic control for the stop signal which responds to the working of the brake.

For a better .understanding of the aboveindicated novel features and others which will hereinafter appear, reference may be had to the accompanying drawingsexemplifying' one embodiment of my invention wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved rear signal device with the front plate removed;

Fig. 2 is a view illustrating the method of forming the device; y

Fig. 3y is a view similar to Fig. 1 of my front' signal device; f f Figs. 4 and 5 are views. (similar to Figs. 1 and 2) of an improved and modifiedsignal device;

Fig. 6 isa perspective view of a modified front signal device; and

Fig. 7 is a diagram of thesimplified signal circuits.

Referring to the drawings where like nu- .together 1n any suitable manner as,

merals designate similar parts throughout my improved rear signal device comprises a base or support 1 which has openings 2 therethrough providing for attachment to the 'automobile support plate or bracket together with the standard license plate. rihe base or support 1 carries on the upper part thereof a four-compartment signal device, these compartments being formed with certain portions thereof integral with the base 1\ as will hereinafter appear. These four compartments comprise a license yplate illuminating compartment 3, right and left hand signal. compartments 4 and 5, and a stop signal compartment 6, all of these compartments being provided with suitable illuminating devices, such as electric lamps indicated generally by the numerals 7, 8, 9 and 10. My improved rear signal device comprising the four compartments just enumerated is ormed in the novel manner following:

The base or of sheet metal or support 1 is formed of a piece other suitable material which can readily be stamped out and cut in the manner vto be described. The base blank is originally stamped out to a form and shape indicated in Fig. 2, there being a rectangular mainl body together with end ears 11 and 12 and an upper rectangular piece 13. After th e formvis stamped to form into this shape it is then cut in any suitable manner along the L-shaped lines a, b, c, and a', b', c. The right and left hand upper corners 14 and 15, are then turned upwardly at right angles to the main base 1 along the lines d and d', these lines or edges bein inline with veach other. The upper part 13 1s also turned upwardly at right angles to the main base 1 into parallel relation with the integral members 14 and 15, this being turned vup along the edge or line e. The end portions of the walls 13, 16 and 17 are then turned downwardly at right angles to the web 13 to form unions with'the inner ends of the rwebs 14 and 15, these end portions abutting the web portions 14 and 15, along the edges a, b and a', b. The ears 1,1 and 12 are then bent at right angles 'to the main base 1 along the lines f to form unions with the outer ends of the websy 14 and 15. The abutting and joining edges of the various webs formed at right angles to the base 1 may be sealed for eX- ample, by soldering. 1n Fig. 1 l have illustrated the corners as reinforced by the metaland firm.

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titi) titi `any suitable colors as, for

lic post 18 which maybe soldered to the joining parts and thereby not only forming a tight seal but rendering the structure rigid The lower part of Fig. l illustrates the base l with the integral walls of the compartment formed therewith. The lower walls of the compartments 4l, 5 and 6 are also'formed of an metal 2O` or other suitable `material. This member 20 embodies the lower walls 2l and 22 for compartments .l and 5 and a lower wall 23 tor the compartment 5,these being joined by inclined portions 2t and 25 which flare outwardly in the downward direction. This piece 2O may be formed and stamped in any suitable manner and during the process ot formation grooves 26 are formed adjacent the lower ed es of 2t and 25 `tor the reception of a suita le transparent window 27, this window bein slided thereinto as indicated in Fig. l. ie iront portion of the signal device comprises the member 28 which may also be ot sheet metal or other suitable material, this being stamped out to tit over the compartments 3, 4. yti and 6 and it may be readily and easily attached to the main base by means of' screws passing through the corners thereof and enter into the reinforcing post 18. This front plate member 28. is provided with transparent windows indicating the words Fight, Lett and Stop over the compartments t, 5 and 6 respectively and the central window 29 is provided over the central compartment 3 to serve as a parking light or rear window which isilluminated from the lamp T. The windows Fight, Lett and Stop may be of example, green for the right and left and red for the stop, he signal device thus described is ot simple construction and is ot minimum parts, the whole being stamped out of three pieces ot sheet metal or other suitable 'material and being easily assembled into the structure illustrated. Tt is also easily and readily attached with the license plate to the rear end of the vehicle and after installation it is a simple mattei' to remove the front plate 28 tor the purpose of' replacing signal devices or the lamps therein.

The signaldevice shown in Fig. 3 may be made similarly to the device shown in Fig. l. Tn this case, however, the device is preterably made into four pieces instead ot three although it may be made in three pieces in lilre manner. The main base 3G ot this device is termed integrally with the end walls 3l and the upper wall 32 oil the three signal con'ipartments, all et these being `formed out olf a piece et sl ine-tal Wed. 'P ne lewe parlements may and distinct pieces lntegral piece of sheet 4ing shown ywor-d Turn but Maaate form the inner walls thereof, these inner walls 33 and 34C converging in the upward direction. These various elements described may be sealed at their joining edges and secured together in any suitable manner as, tor example, by meansot the reinforcing osts 18 which are soldered thereto." The ront piece 35 is formed of a single rectangular shaped metallic piece with two end windows in the form of hands with fingers pointing in the opposite mediate window in the form ot the word Turn, these being adapted to be illuminated by the lamps 36, 37 and 38, these lamps bediagrammatically for convenience in illustration. A window 27 of any suitable color is carried by the members 33 and 3d in a manner similar to the mounting of the window 27 illustrated in Fig. l. The central lamp 38 not onlv illuminates the also, through the window 27", illuminates the license plate carried therebelow. llnstead of the members 33 and 3d being formed in two separatel pieces they may be made into an integral piece similar to the member illustrated in Fig. 2 which may be identical therewith and therefore interchangeable. The hands illustrated in Fig. 3 may be of any suitable color as, for example, the same color as the words `Fight andllfett in Fig. l. ln Figsf t, 5 and 6 ll have illustrated a signal device which ll-preter to that illustrated in Figs. l, 2 and 3. According to this improvement both the tront and rear signal devices are' composed essentially of two parts other suitable materiahand formed into such shape as to give the required compartments for the various signal devices, the construction being such that thetwo parts may be readily assembled or disassembled and may be fastened to each other with the rapidity desired in practice. F ig. l which corresponds to F ig.v 2 illustrates the blank which forms the main base and body ot the signal, which is similar to Figs. land 2 except that the walls 2l, 22, 23, 2t and 25 of the construction illustrated in Figs. l and 2 are formed integrally with the main base l. lin order to etlect this the main base or blank l is provided with extensions lill, ell and t2 on the member lll and similar extensions t3, lll and d5 on the portion l5 so that when 'these members are turned up at right angles along the lines (l and al, it is only necessary then to bend the members 40', dl and 4:2, (4:3, liland e5) down at right an es to .le along the line g. 'wie members elf. and Y(and and 4(5) to a hormone 4:5); then 26 similar to rmed 'therev tei/fm roo ystamped from sheet metal, or

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lllti the members 11 and 12 'from whence it is vturned downwardly to form a rest for plate may be secured to formed and a juncture with the inner end ofy 14 and then bent down into a horizontal position with its interlocking end 42 engagingthe simllar interlocking end 45 on the opposite end. ln order to anchor the different members together l have illustrated interlocking tongue and slot connections but it is understood that the details of the fastening means may be varied to suit the different conditions. For example, l have illustrated the end piece 40vas provided with slots for the reception of a tongue 11 which is formed on the ear 11. Similarly I have illustrated the member 16 as having a tongue' 1,6 which is formed on an extension thereof', which tongue is adapted to enter the slots 14y for securely anchoring the member 16 to the member 14 in their formed position: Similarly l have designated a tongue 41 formed on the member 41 Awhich is adapted to enter the slot 39 formed in the bottom of the base for securely anchoring' the members together. The other member of the signal device is the closing plate 28 which is similar to the one illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and has its lower edge 28 turned inwardly forengaging the bottom of the members 41 and 44 and supportino and reinforcing the same to maintain a su stantially rigid structure. The member 28 be seeuredlthereto in any -convenient manner but it` preferably rests on three inwardly turned ears which form seats therefor, one pair of ears'46 being formed respectively on the upper ends of and inwardly turned and assembled to provide seat substantially in line with. the upper edges of the members 41 and 44-for supporting the plate 28. The third ear or bracket is indicated at v47 and is formed on the member 13 so that when it s tl e upper edge of the plate, the upper surface of the plate is -substantially flush with the edges of the members 13, 14 and 15. The these seats 46 and 47 in anysuitablemanner as,

Fig. 6 shows a signal device similar tol that illustrated in Fig. 3`excepjt'that in this case the-'device is formed essentially of two partsstamped out and suitably formed `and assembled to give the required disposition of. compartments with reinforced walls.

' This isv formed fromablank similar to that illustrated in Fig. 4 except that the members 13, 16 and 17 are omitted and instead of the members 42 and 45 being formed long enough'to engage each other, whengthey are ent into position, are discontinued at their juncture with the upper walls 14 and are formed with tongues 48 for inter.-

for example, Aby attaching. screws which are fixed to the The plate 35 may be readily secured and' anchored in posit-ion -by means of screw .attachments fixed to the inwardly turned ears 46 similar to those illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. ln order to make replacements of lamps or inspect the signal devices it is only necessary to detach which may be done by simply loosening the attaching nuts. The device thus illustrated, is of simple construction and may be manufactured at a minimum expenditure of labor and materials. 'lhey are attached to the vehicle (front and rear) in any suitable position and in any suitable manner.

ln Fig. 7 l have shown the preferred method of control for the signals illustrated herein. A switch 50, suitably and conveniently mounted near the operator, controls the illumination of the lamp 8 on the rear signal device and the lamp 36 on the front signal device so that when this switch is closedthe words Right and the correspondin hand on `the front end are illuminated to in icatea right turn. Similarly a switch 51 controls the lamp 9 on the rear end and the lamp 37 on the turn. Either of the switches 50 and 51 energizes the lamp 38 whichis in series with'the lamps 36 and 3 7 so that when either of these switches is closed then 38 is caused to illuminate the word Turn, which together with the illuminated hand,

movements of the operator. A double signal is therefore given in a highly advantageous manner. The lamp 7 which illuminates the rear license plate and serves as a parking light may be continuously illuminated in any suitable manner 'as is usual. rlhe stop lamp 10 on the rear of the vehicle is illuminated preferably by the operation of a brake 4l whleh serves to close the switch 42 inthe lamp circuit when it is actuated by the operator to retard the motion of the vehicle or to bring it toa deadstop.

lt is, therefore, apparent that in addition -to the improved constructional features of my front and rear signal devices l secure accurate and correct indications, both to people in the rear and to people in the front, of the intended movements ofthe vehicle, all of which signals are very easily obtained.

l claim:

1. A signal device of the character described havinga plurality of closed compartments, two of the compartments being in line with each other to" left turn signals, and an intermediate compartment, said .devlee being formed of. sheet the-plates 28 and 35.

front to indicate a leftand simply Plate 35 has i te'l accurately indicates to' persons in front ofthe vehicle the intended 'ile contain right and v termediate compartment together with in material including one integral piece which forms the base, end and upper walls of the right and left turn signal compartments and has [an integral extension at the bottom to which a license plate is adapted to be attached, a second integral piece of sheet material adapted to it over and form the top closing plate for thecompartments together with means for readily detacliing the same therefrom and having suitable transparent windows formed over the right and lett turn` signal compartments and a transparent window disposed under the aforesaid intermediate. compartment.

A device of the character described for automobiles comprising four signal devices and compartments formed out of two pieces of sheet materia-l and one transparent window, two of said compartments being in line with each other to contain right and left turn signals? with an intermediate compartment therebetween and the third compartment being disposed immediately above the intermediate compartment, one of said pieces .of sheet material forming the base and side walls of the compartments and the other blank piece forming the top closing plate there-for and having suitable transparent windows therein and a transparent window forming the bottom wall of theinterlocking devices formed integrally with the sheet material to render the base and side Walls a substantially rigid structure and means for readily detaching the top plate from the compartments.

3. A signal device 'of the character de scribed comprising a plurality of compartigaeoeea ments formed out of two pieces of sheet material and one transparent window, two of said compartments being in line with each other to contain right and left turn signals with an intermediate compartment therebetween, one of said pieces of sheet material forming the base and side walls of the right and left turn signal compartments and said transparent window forming `the bottom Wall ot the. intermediate compartment, the Second blank piece forming the top closing plate for said compartments and having suitable transparent windows therein togetherwith means and side walls a substantially rigid structure and means for readily detaching the top plate from the compartments. v

t. A signal device of the character defor rendering the base scribed 'having a plurality of closed compartments, two of said compartments being substantially in line with each other to contain right and left turn signals, and another of said compartments being intermediate the two first mentioned compartments but out of line therewith, the walls of said compartments being formed of integral sheet pieces, one of said integral sheets being folded to have parts thereof form the bottom and inner end walls of the right and left turn compartments and the bottom wall of the intermediate compartment, and one of said integral pieces forming a top closing plate for the compartments together with means for readily removing and attaching the same.

lin testimony wl'iereof. l have signed my Aname to this specification.

ALEXANDER BERGER 

